Scheme for multi-cell UL sounding transmission

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method, respective apparatuses, system and computer program product for obtaining channel state information in a coordinated multi¬point transmission/reception communication network. The method comprises allocating a first sounding resource to at least one of a plurality of user equipment in a coordinated multi-point transmission/reception communication network for transmitting sounding reference signal to a base station of a serving cell, and allocating a second sounding resource to the at least one user equipment for transmitting sounding reference signal to a base station of an interfering cell, wherein the first and the second sounding resource are different from each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/505,392, which itself is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C.§ 371 of PCT/CN2009/074759, filed on Nov. 2, 2009, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Scheme for multi-cell UL sounding transmission for obtaining channelstate information in a coordinated multipoint transmission/receivingcommunication network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of obtaining channel stateinformation in a coordinated multipoint transmission/receivingcommunication network, and more particularly, in a mobile communicationnetwork like a Long Term Evolution advanced (LTE-A) communicationnetwork. Additionally, the invention relates to apparatuses in acommunication network, like e.g. a base station, and more particularly,to a (enhanced) node B in a LTE-A communication network and userequipment. Moreover, the invention relates to a program code and acomputer readable medium carrying the program code.

BACKGROUND

The coordinated multipoint transmission and reception (CoMP) concept isan emerging technology in communication networks. However, in emergingtechnologies, there are always also some problems that have to be dealtwith.

A base station (node B) in a network cell needs to get channel stateinformation from user equipment (UE) in the respective cell. In thecoordinated multipoint transmission and reception (CoMP) concept, soundreference signals (SRS) are used in order to obtain these channel stateinformation. Getting channel state information from interfering cells,i.e. overlapping cells, by using sound reference signals (SRS) in uplink(UL), however, will increase the load on the SRS resources as theresource has to be reserved in the interfering cell as well.

In certain cases, SRS is transmitted in the interfering cell only forthe base station to be able to estimate antenna correlation. For suchpurpose, there is no need to send sounding very often. However, for theown cell, there could be a need for more often sounding transmissions tosupport UL channel aware packet scheduling or short term beam forming intime division duplex (TDD).

Thus, there arises the problem of increased overhead with COMP sounding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve this problem, according to the present invention,there is provided method of obtaining channel state information fromuser equipment in a communication network as defined in the independentclaims.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a methodcomprising:

-   -   allocating a first sounding resource to at least one of a        plurality of user equipment in a coordinated multi-point        transmission/reception communication network for transmitting        sounding reference signal to a base station of a serving cell;        and    -   allocating a second sounding resource to the at least one user        equipment for transmitting sounding reference signal to at least        one base station of an interfering cell;    -   the first and the second sounding resource being different from        each other.

According to further refinements of the invention as defined under theabove aspects:

-   -   the first a second sounding resource are cell specific, and    -   the second sounding resource is a sounding resource from the        interfering cell,    -   each of the first and second sounding resource are separately        set based on predetermined configuration parameters,    -   the first sounding resource is set based on predetermined        configuration parameters and the second sounding resource is        selected from an allocated transmission time interval of the        first sounding resource based on specific parameters of the        second sounding resource in time domain,    -   the second sounding resource is set based on predetermined        configuration parameters and the first sounding resource is        selected from an allocated transmission time interval of the        second sounding resource based on specific parameters of the        first sounding resource in time domain,    -   the predetermined configuration parameters comprise one or more        of periodicity and offset in time domain, initial physical        resource block, bandwidth and frequency hopping mode in        frequency domain.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus comprising:

-   -   an controller configured to allocate a first sounding resource        to at least one of a plurality of user equipment in a        coordinated multi-point transmission/reception communication        network for transmitting sounding reference signal to a base        station of a serving cell, and configured to allocate a second        sounding resource to the at least one user equipment for        transmitting sounding reference signal to at least one base        station of an interfering cell;    -   the first and the second sounding resource being different from        each other.

According to further refinements of the invention as defined under theabove aspects:

-   -   the controller is configured to set each of the first and second        sounding resource separately based on predetermined        configuration parameters,    -   the controller is configured to set the first sounding resource        based on predetermined configuration parameters and to select        the second sounding resource from an allocated transmission time        interval of the first sounding resource based on specific        parameters of the second sounding resource in time domain,    -   the controller is configured to set the second sounding resource        based on predetermined configuration parameters and to select        the first sounding resource from an allocated transmission time        interval of the second sounding resource based on specific        parameters of the first sounding resource in time domain,    -   the predetermined configuration parameters comprise one or more        of periodicity and offset in time domain, initial physical        resource block, bandwidth and frequency hopping mode in        frequency domain.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided anapparatus comprising:

-   -   a receiver configured to receive allocation information of a        first sounding resource for transmitting sounding reference        signal to a base station of a serving cell in a coordinated        multi-point transmission/reception communication network, and        configured to receive allocation information of a second        sounding resource for transmitting sounding reference signal to        at least one base station of an interfering cell in a        coordinated multi-point transmission/reception communication        network;    -   the first and the second sounding resource being different from        each other.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided asystem comprising apparatuses as defined above.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided acomputer program product including a program for a processing device,comprising software code portions for performing, when the program isrun on a processing device, any of the steps of the methods as definedabove.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided acomputer program product as defined above, wherein the computer programproduct comprises a computer-readable medium on which the software codeportions are stored.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is providedcomputer program product as defined above, wherein the program isdirectly loadable into an internal memory of the processing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features, details and advantages will becomemore fully apparent from the following detailed description ofembodiments of the present invention which is to be taken in conjunctionwith the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary communication network to which the presentinvention is applicable.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic example for implementing the method accordingto the present invention according to a first option.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic example for implementing the method accordingto the present invention according to a second option.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic example for implementing the method accordingto the present invention according to a third option.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic example of an apparatus, which may be a networkcontrol element such as an eNode B, according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic example of an apparatus, which may be userequipment, according to an example of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described byreferring to general and specific examples of the embodiments. It is tobe understood, however, that the description is given by way of exampleonly, and that the described embodiments are by no means to beunderstood as limiting the present invention thereto.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication network to which the presentinvention is applicable. According to the example shown in FIG. 1, thecommunication network is a cellular mobile communication network.

The communication network 300 comprises two CoMP sets 310 and 311 eachcomprising corresponding base stations 301, 302, 303 and 302, 303, 304,respectively. A CoMP set refers to an UE specific set of base stationsfrom which the UE is receiving/transmitting jointly. Furthermore, aplurality of network elements 305, 306, 307, 308 and 309 areschematically depicted in FIG. 1. However, the communication network mayof course comprise a much higher number of base stations and networkelements, which may be formed by mobile phones, computers, PDAs, basestations of cordless telephones or the like, i.e. every communicationsystem which is suitable for a wireless communication. Each of theplurality of network elements is a member of a CoMP set. Each CoMP setmay have of course more than one BS assigned to. One of the basestations of each CoMP set may form the serving base station. In FIG. 1,CoMP set 310 includes base stations 301, 302, 303, and UEs 305, 306,307. CoMP set 311 includes base stations 302, 303, 304, and UEs 308,309.

For the purpose of the following description of the invention, it isassumed that in FIG. 1 base station 302 is the serving base station forUE 305, for example.

As previously described, UE 305 sends SRS sounding to cells of basestations 301 or 303, i.e. the interfering cell, only in certain cases toenable the base stations to estimate antenna correlation. More often, UE305 sends SRS sounding to the base station 302, which is the servingbase station, to support UL channel aware packet scheduling or shortterm beam forming.

Currently, however, when sending SRS sounding for the own cell to theserving base station 302, the SRS resources also have to be reserved inthe interfering cell, which increases the load on the SRS resources.

In order to solve this problem, according to the present invention,there is proposed a dual code sounding scheme to obtain channel stateinformation from non serving sectors, i.e. interfering cells.

In particular, two sounding resources are allocated to the UE 305. Thatis, channel state information that is only relevant within the own cell,i.e. for the serving base station 302, is sent via a specific resourceonly to the serving base station in order to decrease the load on theSRS resources of the interfering cell (also referred to as a single cellSRS hereinafter). Further, information that is relevant for all basestations in the CoMP set are sent via another resource to all basestations in the CoMP set (also referred to as a CoMP SRS hereinafter)

One resource can be taken from the resources used in the interferingcell where base station antenna correlation is needed. This can betransmitted with a certain periodicity/offset. The other resource can betaken from the single cell group which can be transmitted with anotherperiodicity/offset.

The resource used for sounding in interfering cell could be replaced bya generalized CoMP sounding resource which is generated based oncollaboration area ID and is reserved in all the cells of thecollaboration area.

In the following, three options for implementing the invention will bedescribed.

In the first option, the SRS for CoMP (generated based on multi-cellgroup of codes) and SRS for single-cell are configured by anchor basestation (and/or serving eNB), e.g. an enhanced Node B (eNB), separately,in which each SRS has its own SRS configuration parameters, e.g.periodicity and offset in time domain, initial PRB and bandwidth andfrequency hopping mode (if enabled) in frequency domain.

-   -   a) When the resource of two kinds of SRS conflict in time        domain, the UE can act based on pre-determined criterion, e.g.        discard single-cell SRS if CoMP is more important for this UE or        for the whole cell;    -   b) Another case is that although two SRS conflict in time        domain, but they are not in the same PRB in frequency domain,        -   i. then both these two SRS are transmitted together, each            with only half transmit power of per-determined power            allocation;        -   ii. or only one SRS is transmitted based on one of the            criteria as described in a).    -   c) Required signaling:        -   i. Single cell SRS            -   1. Parameters for time domain                -   a) T_(SFC) is UE-specific periodicity of SRS                    transmission;                -   b) Δ_(SFC) is SRS subframe offset.            -   2. Parameters for frequency domain                -   a) The cell-specific parameter srs-BandwidthConfig                    c_(SRS)∈{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} and the UE-specific                    parameter srs-Bandwidth B_(SRS)∈{0, 1, 2, 3} are                    given by higher layers;                -   b) k_(TC)∈{0, 1} is the parameter transmissionComb                    provided by higher layers for the UE;                -   c) The frequency hopping of the sounding reference                    signal is configured by the parameter                    srs-HoppingBandwidth, b_(hop)∈{0, 1, 2, 3}, provided                    by higher layers;                -   d) parameter freqDomainPosition n_(RRC) is given by                    higher layers for the UE.            -   3. Parameters for sequence                -   a) n^(cs) _(SRS): determine cyclic shift parameter,                    configured for each UE by high layer, range {0, 1,                    2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7};                -   b) u is the PUCCH sequence-group number, v is base                    sequence number.        -   ii. COMP SRS            -   1. Parameters for time domain                -   a) T_(SFC) is UE-specific periodicity of SRS                    transmission;                -   b) Δ_(SFC) is SRS subframe offset.            -   2. Parameters for frequency domain                -   a) The cell-specific parameter srs-BandwidthConfig                    C_(SRS){0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} and the UE-specific                    parameter srs-Bandwidth B_(SRS)∈{0, 1, 2, 3} are                    given by higher layers;                -   b) k_(TC)∈{0, 1} is the parameter transmissionComb                    provided by higher layers for the UE;                -   c) The frequency hopping of the sounding reference                    signal is configured by the parameter                    srs-HoppingBandwidth, b_(hop)∈{0, 1, 2, 3}, provided                    by higher layers;                -   d) parameter freqDomainPosition n_(RRC) is given by                    higher layers for the UE.            -   3. Parameters for sequence                -   a) n^(cs) _(RSR): determine cyclic shift parameter,                    configured for each UE by high layer, range {0, 1,                    2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7};                -   b) u is the PUCCH sequence-group number, v is base                    sequence number.

In the second option, the single-cell SRS is configured as defined inLTE Release 8 (R8), and SRS for CoMP is selected from the allocatedtransmission time interval (TTI) for single-cell SRS based on someCoMP-specific parameters including density and offset in time domain,

-   -   a) Required signaling:        -   i. Single cell SRS            -   1. Parameters for time domain                -   a) T_(SFC) is UE-specific periodicity of SRS                    transmission;                -   b) Δ_(SFC) is SRS subframe offset.            -   2. Parameters for frequency domain                -   a) The cell-specific parameter srs-BandwidthConfig                    c_(SRS)∈{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} and the UE-specific                    parameter srs-Bandwidth B_(SRS)∈{0, 1, 2, 3} are                    given by higher layers;                -   b) k_(TC)∈{0, 1} is the parameter transmissionComb                    provided by higher layers for the UE;                -   c) The frequency hopping of the sounding reference                    signal is configured by the parameter                    srs-HoppingBandwidth, b_(hop)∈{0, 1, 2, 3}, provided                    by higher layers;                -   d) parameter fregDomainPosition n_(RRC), is given by                    higher layers for the UE.            -   3. Parameters for sequence                -   a) n^(cs) _(SRS): determine cyclic shift parameter,                    configured for each UE by high layer, range {0, 1,                    2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7};                -   b) u is the PUCCH sequence-group number, v is base                    sequence number.        -   ii. CoMP SRS            -   D_(SRS) is the density of CoMP SRS within one period of                single cell SRS, and the value could be either larger                than 1, e, g. {1, 2, 3 . . . } . . . or smaller than 1,                e.g. {0.2, 0.5, . . . };            -   2. T_(offset) is CoMP SRS subframe offset within one                period of single cell SRS.

In the third option, the CoMP SRS is configured as defined in R8, andSRS for single-cell is selected from the allocated TTI for CoMP SRSbased on some single-cell-specific parameters including density andoffset in time domain.

-   -   a) Required signalling:        -   i. CoMP SRS            -   1. Parameters for time domain                -   a) T_(SFC) is UE-specific periodicity of SRS                    transmission;                -   b) Δ_(SFC) is SRS subframe offset.            -   2. Parameters for frequency domain                -   a) The cell-specific parameter srs BandwidthConfig                    C_(SRS)∈{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} and the UE-specific                    parameter srs-Bandwidth B_(SRS)∈{0, 1, 2, 3} are                    given by higher layers;                -   b) k_(TC)∈{0, 1} is the parameter transmissionComb                    provided by higher layers for the UE;                -   c) The frequency hopping of the sounding reference                    signal is configured by the parameter                    srs-HoppingBandwidth, b_(hop)∈{0, 1, 2, 3}, provided                    by higher layers;                -   d) parameter fregDomainPosition n_(RRC) is given by                    higher layers for the UE.            -   3. Parameters for sequence                -   a) n^(cs) _(SRS): determine cyclic shift parameter,                    configured for each UE by high layer, range {0, 1,                    2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7};                -   b) u is the PUCCH sequence-group number, v is base                    sequence number.        -   ii. Single-cell SRS            -   1. D_(SRS) is the density of single-cell SRS within one                period of CoMP SRS, and the value could be either larger                than 1, e, g. {1, 2, 3 . . . }, . . . or smaller than 1,                e.g. {0.2, 0.5, . . . };            -   2. T_(offset) is single-cell SRS subframe offset within                one period of CoMP SRS.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic example for option 1. In FIG. 1, theT_(SFC)/Δ_(SFC) for the single cell SRS is 5 (subframes)/0 (subframes)and those for CoMP is 5 (subframes)/2 (subframes). As derivable from theFIG. 2, no conflict between two kinds of SRS occurs according to option1.

FIG. 3 shows one schematic example for option 2, in which theT_(SPC)/Δ_(SFC) for single cell is 10 (subframes)/{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8}(subframes). For CoMP, D_(SRS)=2 and T_(offset)={1, 6}.

In this case, there occurs a conflict between the single cell SRS andthe CoMP SRS in the time domain, i.e. in the second and seventhsubframe. Thus, as previously mentioned, the UE can act based onpredetermined criterion, e.g. discard the single cell SRS if the CoMPSRS is more important for the US or for the whole cell.

FIG. 4 shows one schematic example for option 3, in which theT_(SFC)/Δ_(SFC) for CoMP is 10 (subframes)/{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8}(Subframes). For single cell, D_(SRS)=2 and T_(offset)={1, 6}.

In this case, there also occurs a conflict between the single cell SRSand the CoMP SRS in the time domain, i.e. in the second and seventhsubframe. Thus, as previously mentioned, the UE can act based onpredetermined criterion, e.g. discard the single cell SRS if the CoMPSRS is more important for the US or for the whole cell.

The advantage of the method according to the present invention is thatthere is no need to design new SRS configuration parameters in the caseof option 1, as described above. Further, for two kinds of SRS, there isprovided a flexible and independent configuration (options 2 and 3, asdescribed above).

FIG. 5 shows an apparatus, which may be a network control element suchas an eNode B, according to an example of the present invention. Theapparatus comprises a sender 51, a controller 52 and a receiver 53. Thereceiver 53 receives channel state information provided from the UE andthe controller 52 processes the channel state information. The sender 51sends information regarding the allocated resources to the UE. Thecontroller further controls all processes of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows an apparatus, which may be user equipment (UE), accordingto an example of the present invention. The apparatus comprises a sender61, a controller 62 and a receiver 63. The receiver 63 receivesinformation from the network control element regarding the allocatedresources and the sender 61 sends SRS to the network control elementbased on the allocated resource. The controller controls all processesof the apparatus.

It is noted that in both apparatuses, the sender 51 (or 61), thecontroller 52 (or 62) and the receiver 53 (or 63) may be provided as oneunit. That is, for example a processor of an Node-B or of a UE may beconfigured to perform the functions of these elements or a part thereof.

In the foregoing exemplary description of the base station and the userequipment, only the units that are relevant for understanding theprinciples of the invention have been described using functional blocks.The base station and the user equipment may comprise further units thatare necessary for their operation as base station and user equipment,respectively. However, a description of these units is omitted in thisspecification. The arrangement of the functional blocks of the devicesis not construed to limit the invention, and the functions may beperformed by one block or further split into sub-blocks.

For the purpose of the present invention as described herein above, itshould be noted that

-   -   method steps likely to be implemented as software code portions        and being run using a processor at a network control element or        terminal (as examples of devices, apparatuses and/or modules        thereof, or as examples of entities including apparatuses and/or        modules therefore), are software code independent and can be        specified using any known or future developed programming        language as long as the functionality defined by the method        steps is preserved;    -   generally, any method step is suitable to be implemented as        software or by hardware without changing the idea of the        embodiments and its modification in terms of the functionality        implemented;    -   method steps and/or devices, units or means likely to be        implemented as hardware components at the above-defined        apparatuses, or any module(s) thereof, (e.g., devices carrying        out the functions of the apparatuses according to the        embodiments as described above, UE, eNode-B etc. as described        above) are hardware independent and can be implemented using any        known or future developed hardware technology or any hybrids of        these, such as MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor), CMOS        (Complementary MOS), BiMOS (Bipolar MOS), BiCMOS (Bipolar CMOS),        ECL (Emitter Coupled Logic), TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic),        etc., using for example ASIC (Application Specific IC        (Integrated Circuit)) components, FPGA (Field-programmable Gate        Arrays) components, CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device)        components or DSP (Digital Signal Processor) components;    -   devices, units or means (e.g. the above-defined apparatuses, or        any one of their respective means) can be implemented as        individual devices, units or means, but this does not exclude        that they are implemented in a distributed fashion throughout        the system, as long as the functionality of the device, unit or        means is preserved;    -   an apparatus may be represented by a semiconductor chip, a        chipset, or a (hardware) module comprising such chip or chipset;        this, however, does not exclude the possibility that a        functionality of an apparatus or module, instead of being        hardware implemented, be implemented as software in a (software)        module such as a computer program or a computer program product        comprising executable software code portions for execution/being        run on a processor;    -   a device may be regarded as an apparatus or as an assembly of        more than one apparatus, whether functionally in cooperation        with each other or functionally independently of each other but        in a same device housing, for example.

It is noted that the embodiments and general and specific examplesdescribed above are provided for illustrative purposes only and are inno way intended that the present invention is restricted thereto.Rather, it is the intention that all variations and modifications beincluded which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a first soundingresource and a second sounding resource at a receiver, wherein the firstsounding resource is allocated for transmitting a sounding referencesignal to a base station of a serving cell, wherein the second soundingresource is allocated for transmitting a sounding reference signal to atleast one base station of an interfering cell, wherein the first and thesecond sounding resources are different from each other in thecoordinated multi-point transmission/reception communication network,wherein the first and second sounding resources are each set separatelybased on predetermined configuration parameters, and wherein in responseto a conflict in a time domain of the first sounding reference signaland the second sounding reference signal, the first sounding referencesignal is discarded based on a predetermined criterion.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the first and second sounding resourcesare cell specific, and wherein the second sounding resource is asounding resource from the interfering cell.
 3. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the first sounding resource is set based onpredetermined configuration parameters and the second sounding resourceis selected from an allocated transmission time interval of the firstsounding resource based on specific parameters of the second soundingresource in time domain.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein thesecond sounding resource is set based on predetermined configurationparameters and the first sounding resource is selected from an allocatedtransmission time interval of the second sounding resource based onspecific parameters of the first sounding resource in time domain. 5.The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined configurationparameters comprise one or more of periodicity and offset in timedomain, initial physical resource block, bandwidth and frequency hoppingmode in frequency domain.
 6. An apparatus comprising: a controllerconfigured to allocate a first sounding resource and a second soundingresource to at least one of a plurality of user equipment in acoordinated multi-point transmission/reception communication network,wherein the first sounding resource is allocated for transmitting asounding reference signal to a base station of a serving cell, whereinthe second sounding resource is allocated for transmitting a soundingreference signal to at least one base station of an interfering cell,wherein the first and the second sounding resource are different fromeach other in the coordinated multi-point transmission/receptioncommunication network, wherein the first and second sounding resourcesare each set separately based on predetermined configuration parameters,and wherein in response to a conflict in a time domain of the firstsounding reference signal and the second sounding reference signal, thefirst sounding reference signal is discarded based on a predeterminedcriterion.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controlleris configured to set the first sounding resource based on predeterminedconfiguration parameters and to select the second sounding resource froman allocated transmission time interval of the first sounding resourcebased on specific parameters of the second sounding resource in a timedomain.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller isconfigured to set the second sounding resource based on predeterminedconfiguration parameters and to select the first sounding resource froman allocated transmission time interval of the second sounding resourcebased on specific parameters of the first sounding resource in a timedomain.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predeterminedconfiguration parameters comprise one or more of periodicity and offsetin time domain, initial physical resource block, bandwidth and frequencyhopping mode in frequency domain.
 10. The apparatus according to claim6, wherein: the controller comprises at least one processor; and theapparatus further comprises at least one memory comprising executablesoftware code portions for execution by the at least one processor,wherein the at least one processor, in response to execution of theexecutable software code portions, causes the apparatus to perform theallocating of the first sounding resource and the second soundingresource.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the at leastone processor, in response to execution of the executable software codeportions, causes the apparatus to perform, in response to the conflictin the time domain of the first sounding reference signal and the secondsounding reference signal, the first sounding reference signal to bediscarded based on the predetermined criterion.
 12. An apparatuscomprising: a receiver configured to receive allocation information of afirst sounding resource and a second sounding resource, wherein thefirst sounding resource is allocated for transmitting a soundingreference signal to a base station of a serving cell in a coordinatedmulti-point transmission/reception communication network, wherein thesecond sounding resource is allocated for transmitting a soundingreference signal to at least one base station of an interfering cell inthe coordinated multi-point transmission/reception communicationnetwork, wherein the first and the second sounding resources beingdifferent from each other in the coordinated multi-pointtransmission/reception communication network, and wherein the first andsecond sounding resources are each set separately based on predeterminedconfiguration parameters, and wherein in response to a conflict in atime domain of the first sounding reference signal and the secondsounding reference signal, the first sounding reference signal isdiscarded based on a predetermined criterion.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein: the apparatus further comprises at leastone memory comprising executable software code portions for execution bythe at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor, inresponse to execution of the executable software code portions, causesthe apparatus to perform the receiving the allocation information of thefirst sounding resource and the second sounding resource.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one processor, inresponse to execution of the executable software code portions, causesthe apparatus to perform, in response to the conflict in the time domainof the first sounding reference signal and the second sounding referencesignal, the first sounding reference signal to be discarded based on thepredetermined criterion.
 15. A computer program product embodied on anon-transitory computer-readable medium, in which a computer program fora processing device is stored, comprising software code portions forperforming the steps of claim 1 when the program is run on theprocessing device.
 16. The computer program product according to claim11, wherein the program is directly loadable into an internal memory ofthe processing device.